A neat contrivance of rods and cams

creates the illusion a hustler seeks.

His window dressing perfects the hoax –

the turban and robes a thespian’s flourish…

 

This season Mechanics is all the rage

in fairground shows and court, where

an empress cheats but can’t outsmart

some gadget’s lack of class.

 

It takes a certain kind of flair to plot

the chequered board. A wind-up toy

takes on the best in Europe’s brightest halls.

 

Its cunning leaps the gap between

what is thought and done.